Gallery: What Happens When You Bathe Film in Bleach and Lemon Juice
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Photographer Ajay Malghan bathed 35mm film negatives in a variety of acidic household products.
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Coffee, lemon juice and vinegar were commonly used to distress the strips of film.
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Malghan applied multiple liquids to the film in different amounts and different orders to vary the results.
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In many cases, Malghan put down coffee or vinegar first to buffer the very corrosive effects of bleach.
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"I took on this concept because of my affinity towards the tangible experience and engaging in art in a physical manner," says Malghan.
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The two main agents used for the majority of the 'Bleached' series were oven cleaner and bleach.
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After distressing and washing the film, Malghan scanned the small negative and enlarged the image file to reveal the beguiling details.
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In time, Malghan started adding more to the palette; different vinegars, soap, hydrogen peroxide. "Basic items that we all have in our kitchens."
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All within a small frame, the results resemble space photographs of galaxies and nebula.
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Certain images resemble microscopic images of cultures, germs or viruses.
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Some of Malghan's scanned negatives even resemble the drips and scratches of abstract painting. Jackson Pollock, anyone?
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Other images even have the look of satellite imagery or geological survey.
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Battery acid has a Ph of 1.0. Many sour candies are between 1.4 and 3.4 on the Ph scale. The caustic nature of sugary treats got Malghan thinking about the acids in our everyday lives.
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“Pursuing cameraless photography changed everything for me,” says Malghan. “My art gives someone an experience and I consider that a privilege.”
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Malghan did not keep track of which combinations yielded which results. Every abstraction is unique and unrepeatable.
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Thinking of experimenting with this process? "Please do so in an open area with gloves and a mask," urges Malghan.
